Patrick H Judge is the owner of a farm of 160 acres, on which he resides situated on section 14, Des Moines township. He is numbered among the extensive landowners of this part of the state, his possessions aggregating four farms, three of which are situated in Des Moines township, this county and one in Story county, Iowa. His investments have always been judiciously made and his sound judgment finds expression in his purchase of valuable property.
Mr Judge was born in Troy, New York, March 14, 1853, and comes of Irish ancestry, his paternal grandparents being James and Ann (Hill) Judge, native of the green isle of Erin. James Judge, father of our subject was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, I 1829, acquired his education there and when eighteen years of age came to the United States. He was employed at different places in the state of New York, working as a farm hand at three and four dollars per month, but his industry and worth became recognized and won him advancement. He as married in Troy, New York, to Miss Bridget Kelly who was born in County Galway, Ireland, a daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Mooney) Kelly. James Judge’s people were well to do owning 100 acres of land, which is a large estate for Ireland. The brothers of Mrs Judge, finely educated men, taught school in Ireland and ranked high in educational circles. Two of her brothers, James and John, came to the United States and their sister Bridget followed their example, giving her hand in marriage in Troy, New York to James Judge. They conducted a grocery store in Troy for a time but the family removed to Janesville, Wisconsin, where a house and lot was purchased. There however Mr Judge became ill with fever and ague, a disease very common at that time, and life at Janesville for Monroe, Wisconsin. In 1872 he removed to Iowa, settling in Colfax township, Boone county were he passed away on December 16, 1907, his remains being interred in Boone. His political endorsement was given to the democratic party. His wife passed away August 11. 1901. She was a member of the Sacred Heart church.
Patrick H Judge was but two years of age when the removal was made form New York to Janesville, Wisconsin, where the family remained for four years and the went to Green county that settled, settling near Monroe. There Patrick H Judge was sent to the public schools, and later he completed his education Dane county, Wisconsin. He worked upon his father’s farm from boyhood until he attained his majority. In 1872 the family came to Iowa, reaching Boone county on May 10. All the members of the family made the journey with three teams and wagons and three of them drove three cows form their Wisconsin home to this state. The family residence was established upon a farm in Colfax township, the father purchasing 80 acres of land, to which he added by subsequent purchased .In the work of tilling the soil Patrick H Judge bore his part but left home at the age of twenty-one years and went to work for a dairyman, Thomas Barrett, of Franklin township, Story county, with whom he remained nine months as an employee in Mr Barrett’s cheese factory. He afterward spent some time at home building fences, etc. thus allowing his younger brothers to attend school by relieving them of the necessity of aiding in the farm work. Later he was employed at Ames College in 1876 working under Professor Morrow, who was engaged in experimental agricultural work. Mr Judge’s father then gave him a team and in 1877, boarding at home he began the cultivation of a forty-acres tract of land which he leased from Dan Clark of Story county. Mr Judge farmed that place until the following fall and sold his corn at twelve cents per bushel after giving Mr Clark one half of the yield as rental for the place. He spent the summer in Gundy county, where he was employed by a German named Franken, receiving a dollar and a half per day. From his earnings he saved early one hundred dollars. He had previously invested in a 40 acres tract of railroad land in Colfax township, in Colfax township, Boone county and purchasing stock, he put them on that tract. He invested his money in hogs at a dollar and a quarter per hundred pounds, fattened them and sold them for five dollars per hundred. The money which he thus earned he invested in another 40 acre tract near his original purchase and in 1879 he added still another 40 acres. Thus gradually he increased his holdings for was he gained sufficient capital he made other purchases, his investments being most judicious In 1890 Mr Judge was married to Miss Catherine Coleman, a native of Wayne township, Monroe county, Iowa, born September 9, 1867. Her parents were Joseph and Bridget (Finnell) Coleman, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former born in County Tipperary and the later in County Clare. They came to the United States in early life, landing in New York, and were married in Wisconsin. They afterward settled in Dubuque and thence went to St Louis, where they lived for nine years. On the expiration of that period they returned to Iowa settling in Monroe county upon a farm of 400 acres which the father purchased. He died January 1, 1901, at the age of seventy-six years.
Following their marriage Mr and Mrs Judge had begun their domestic life upon a farm in Colfax township, where the owned a half section, but since then he has disposed of that property. In March 1902, he removed to his present farm. He had built a fine home upon the place in Colfax township and he has his present property well improved The home place comprises 160 acres of section 14, Des Moines township, and his holdings include two other farms in the same township and one in Story county, from which he derives a gratifying annual income.
Mr and Mrs Judge have been born four children: Joseph who was born August 9, 1891, James Francis born December 3, 1892, John W, September 1, 1896 and Henry A October 7, 1898. The family is well known and Mr Judge ranks with the representative agriculturists of the county. He has been the architect of his own fortunes and has builded wisely and well. Industry has been ten keynote of his success. He has labored long and diligently his efforts intelligently directed and as result of his perseverance and determination he ranks now with the representative and prosperous farmers of the county.